Ethyl silicate
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 78–10–4
NIOSH REL: 10 ppm (85 mg/m3) TWA
Current OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (850 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: 10 ppm (85 mg/m3) TWA
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 10 ppm (85 mg/m3) TWA
Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with a sharp, alcohol-like odor.
LEL:. . Unknown
Original (SCP) IDLH: 1,000 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the following statements by AIHA [1968]: "Smyth and Seaton [1940] reported that 1,740 ppm in dry air caused the first guinea pig death in 15 minutes, while at 1,170 ppm the first death was in 2 hours. In the presence of 70% humidity, effects were less pronounced, presumably because part of the ethyl silicate was hydrolyzed."
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal concentration data:
Species |
Reference |
LC50 (ppm) |
LCLo (ppm) |
Time |
Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF) |
Derived value |
Rat G. pig G. pig G. pig |
Carpenter et al. 1949 Smyth and Seaton 1940 Smyth and Seaton 1940 Smyth and Seaton 1940 |
----- ----- ----- ----- |
1,000 700 1,740 1,170 |
4 hr 6 hr 15 min 2 hr |
2,000 ppm (2.0) 1,610 ppm (2.3) 1,375 ppm (0.79) 1,872 ppm (1.6) |
200 ppm 161 ppm 138 ppm 187 ppm |
Lethal dose data:
Species |
Reference |
Route |
LD50 (mg/kg) |
LDLo (mg/kg) |
Adjusted LD |
Derived value |
Rat | Carpenter et al. 1949 | oral | 6,270 | ----- | 5,068 ppm | 507 ppm |
Other animal data: It has been stated that 2,000 ppm is about the maximum exposure for 60 minutes without the production of serious disturbances in guinea pigs and rats; 500 ppm is the maximum exposure for several hours without causing serious effects [Smyth and Seaton 1940].
Human data: Exposure to a concentration of 1,200 ppm caused lacrimation and 250 ppm caused irritation of the eyes and nose [Smyth and Seaton 1940]. It has been stated that 700 ppm is probably intolerable for more than 30 minutes [Smyth and Seaton 1940].
Revised IDLH: 700 ppm Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for ethyl silicate is 700 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Smyth and Seaton 1940]. |
REFERENCES:
1. AIHA [1968]. Ethyl silicate. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 29:624-626.
2. Carpenter CP, Smyth HF Jr, Pozzani UC [1949]. The assay of acute vapor toxicity, and the grading and interpretation of results on 96 chemical compounds. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 31:343-346.
3. Smyth HF Jr, Seaton J [1940]. Acute response of guinea pigs and rats to inhalation of the vapors of tetraethyl orthosilicate (ethyl silicate). J Ind Hyg Toxicol 22(7):288-296.
- Page last reviewed: December 4, 2014
- Page last updated: December 4, 2014
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